0% batting average, no HR or RBIs “in his potential” Old Dora 1 with a huge reduction in annual salary… “Test” given by executives |

Table of Contents

• 1 Kento Watanabe’s annual salary at Seibu has been reduced by 3.5 million yen to 12.5 million yen.
• 2 Advice from Coach Hitoshi, who was seen as an enemy: “It’s easy to pivot.”
• 3 ⁢**Considering ‌the emphasis on swing mechanics and weight‌ loss, what specific adjustments do you think Kento Watanabe needs to make to regain his previous form and‌ become a ‌more consistent contributor⁣ to the Seibu Lions?**

Kento Watanabe’s annual salary at Seibu has been reduced by 3.5 million yen to 12.5 million yen.

Will humility be a catalyst for awakening? Seibu infielder Kento Watanabe, who will enter his fifth season next season, held contract renewal negotiations at the team office on the 26th, and signed next season’s annual salary of 12.5 million yen (approx. ), a decrease of 3.5 million yen. He had just one first-team cap this season, and it was announced that his shirt number would be changed from “8”, which he had worn for four years since turning professional, to “66” .

“I wanted to use the experience I had last year, but I couldn’t hit as well as I wanted. My desire to lose results, and I ended up putting pressure on myself .” Looking back on this season, he bit his lip and said, “It’s hard to change my uniform number without getting any results. I want to do my best to get good results with my new number.”

Last year, he played in a career-high 57 games, with a .214 batting average (41 hits in 192 at-bats), 6 home runs and 25 RBIs. He got the starting number four in 35 of those games, and expectations were high. However, this season, he appeared in only 11 games in the first team, and his batting average was .030 (hit 1 in 33 at bats). The first team suffered from poor hitting, with a .212 batting average, the worst of 12 teams this season, 350 runs scored, and 60 home runs, and guns must have been badly needed. long range, but they could not meet the demand.

Koji Hiroike, the team’s assistant manager in charge of contract renewal negotiations, said, “The fact is that he was not called up (to the first team) even in this year’s situation with his ability and his current situation. Hit, so I think it was a tough season.

He joined the team from Toin Yokohama University as the No. 1 pick in the 2020 draft, and because of his chubby body at 176 cm tall and 115 kg, he was named the “Okawari 3rd generation” after infielder Goya Nakamura and current Softbank. Hotaka Yamakawa infielder. The team selected outfielder Seiya Watanabe from Daisho University, who shares his last name, with the second pick in this year’s draft, and Ken Watanabe’s presence is in danger of diminishing.

Advice from Coach Hitoshi, who was seen as an enemy: “It’s easy to pivot.”

However, signs of awakening are beginning to appear, albeit small. Fielding boss and batting coach Toshihisa Hitoshi, who just took over this off-season, was DeNA’s second-team manager for three years until last year, and had taken to bat Ken Watanabe as an opponent in the Eastern League. At fall camp, he received advice based on this.

“I was told, ‘My pivot foot, the right foot, tends to move easily, so let’s not let it move,'” he said, adding, “Since I have become aware of that, I feel that the way I see the ball is a little different.” “I’m not sure yet, but I think I’m getting a feel for it bit by bit,” he said with a nod.

Also, at the press conference after the contract renewal, Ken Watabe’s body appeared wrapped in a suit and his muscles were increasing more than before. “Fall camp was tough, so I was able to naturally narrow it down. It’s easy to move around,” he admits.

Weight is often talked about, so when asked about specific numbers, he said, “I haven’t measured it yet, so I don’t know, but it’s just a feeling. …”, but this suggests a change in awareness. His talent as a rare long gunslinger cannot be left hidden.

(Hirohisa Miyawaki)